A van containing 16 of the bodies was plastered with a banner referencing the ongoing wars between rival drug cartels in Sinaloa, authorities said.

The grim reality of Mexico's escalating cartel violence was underscored on Monday as four decapitated bodies were found hanging from a bridge in Culiacan, the capital of Sinaloa state. This horrific discovery comes amidst a surge of bloodshed that has claimed nearly 20 lives in less than 24 hours, according to authorities.

Four decapitated bodies were found hanging from a bridge in the capital of western Mexico's Sinaloa state on Monday, part of a surge of cartel violence that killed 20 people in less than a day, authorities said.